248A: The Grey Cock, or, Saw You My Father

248A.1 O SAW ye my father? or saw ye my mother?
Or saw ye my true-love John?
I saw not your father, I saw not your mother,
But I saw your true-love John.
248A.2 Its now ten at night, and the stars gie nae light,
And the bells they ring ding, dang;
Hes met wi some delay that causeth him to stay,
But he will be here ere lang.
248A.3 The surly auld earl did naething but snarl,
And Johnys face it grew red;
Yet, tho he often sighd, he neer a word replied
Till all were asleep in bed.
248A.4 Up Johny rose, and to the door he goes,
And gently tirl d the pin;
The lassie taking tent unto the door she went,
And she opend and let him in.
248A.5 And are ye come at last? and do I hold ye fast?
And is my Johny true?
I hae nae time to tell, but sae langs I like mysell
Sae lang will I love you.
248A.6 Flee, flee up, my bonny grey cock,
And craw when it is day;
Your neck shall be like the bonny beaten gold,
And your wings of the silver grey.
248A.7 The cock provd false, and untrue he was,
For he crew an hour oer soon;
The lassie thought it was day when she sent her love away,
And it was but a blink of the moon.